I wrote in a previous post about my travels
to the Balkans and Eastern Europe, and while I absolutely loved my experiences there, I couldn’t help but notice that I
seemed like the only Black person travelling. (Or at least it felt that way!) And I remember feeling
that it was somewhat disconcerting and a bit isolating. There was no way to
blend in without curious stares, nothing threatening or malicious, but stares
nonetheless. But travelling to Ghana was a totally different travel experience
for many reasons, but specifically because for the first time in my life
anywhere (besides living in New York City), I was not a visible minority.
Actually, the feeling of not standing out
happened on the flight from Amsterdam to Accra. Just boarding, there were all
these Africans or people of African descent in line! Only the Dutch crew and a
few other passengers stood out as a minority. Obviously, it makes total sense;
it just was my first experience flying to an African country...so, new to me.
And when I arrived in Accra travelling to
Kumasi the next day by bus, it became quite clear of what I might be in for in
terms of being a “non-visible minority”. Certainly, having been born and raised
in the United States and currently living in Canada, and having never set foot
in Africa before, I did stand out with my Western dress, American mannerism,
etc., not to mention the fact that I only spoke English and not the local
dialect. So I was noticed, but I wasn’t an overwhelming object of curiosity.
And, that was so refreshing!
It’s a bit superficial, but I felt I had
found my people, so to speak! J And, of course, I had in a way. I am not sure of my exact lineage
beyond a small village in Mississippi, à la “Roots” per se, but knowing a bit
about the history of the Atlantic Slave Trade (which I was fortunate to get a
further glimpse of while visiting slave castles in the Cape Coast), I know that
my roots are somehow there.
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